Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Contemporary, but still with a Texas edge, October 30, 2004
Pat Green's last CD, WAVE ON WAVE, was hit-and-miss: the title cut was a great song, but most of the others weren't stand-outs. It was stuck somewhere between Green's alternative roots, and his vision of mainstream success.
LUCKY ONES, thank God, makes the transition into full mainstream--with a little hint of his alternative past in the expert songwriting put into these songs. Producer Don Gehman emphasizes drums and guitars--much like he did with John Cougar's immortal AMERICAN FOOL--and raises this album above forgetable contemporary schmaltz. It becomes something of a country/rock album...and it is here that Pat Green may find his true throne.
He didn't write any of these numbers by his lonesome, but he chose some damn good cowriters: Drew Womack, Ray Wiley Hubbard, Rob Thomas, Radney Foster, and Brad Paisley, for example. The strenght of these tunes lies in their production and lyrics: some songs on here, such as "Long Way to Go," "My Little Heaven," and "Temporary Angel" are downright poetic. And few tunes are more romantic than Radney Foster's "Lucky Ones," or the Green/Foster collaboration "It's Time." And yet, "College" is an absolutely hilarious number written and performed with Brad Paisley, and "Sweet Revenge" will reinvigorate the ears of Green's longtime fans ("Ain't lookin for vindication/Apologies or consolation/Pull em up and burn the roots/Kill their horses and steal their boots/Ooh, sweet revenge"), a bluesy number that reminds one of many a survivalist documentary...or "Deliverance."
So, Pat Green's LUCKY ONES man alienate some of his fans. However, it IS a good--possibly even great--CD that gets better every time you listen to it. Give it a try; if you're one of Green's die-hard Texas fans, maybe he'll get back to that stuff later. For now, he's searching for fame and fortunate...and thankfully, he's making great music while doing so.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lucky Ones, March 31, 2005
The Lucky Ones are the people who purchase this album. To me, Pat Green is like Merle Haggard: in a class by himself. CCR, McClure, Roger Clyne and Reckless Kelly are all good, but no one can match Pat. LO is strong from start to finish and has a good mix of songs. My personal favorites are "Somewhere Between Texas and Mexico", Radney's "Lucky Ones", and the Rob Thomas collaboration "My Little Heaven". Pat, please come play the Wormy Dog Saloon in Oklahoma City more often.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Maybe more mainstream - but that doesn't mean it's bad music, November 5, 2004
Having read previous reviews of this new CD by Pat Green fans, I can understand how they are probably alittle disappointed in its more mainstream country sound. To me, to say sell-out is abit strong. As a more "mature" listener (my college 'daze' have LONG past me by...), I know you can't stay young forever surviving on beer songs and party muzak. (Oh, yes, I also own CD's by Reckless Kelly, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Robert Earl Keen and a few others - just so you know I'm not a totally old fart)
However, at least Pat had the good sense to surround himself with some excellent co-writers for this CD. "Baby Doll, Somewhere between Texas and Mexico, and the last four tracks - Long Way Home, Temporary Angel", etc. are my favorites as I like both the music and the lyrics to the songs.
However, give me time, I may just yet invest in some of PG's other CDs afterI get tired of listening to this one as Icontinue my ever growing search for authentic songwriters and artists rather than the over-produced stuff that plagues both the country, rock and pop-music genres in today's music world.
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by Pat Green 
